CALIFF
The door swung open to my office. My father walked in with a wide smile.
Months had passed, and I still tried to wrap my head around that Shadow risked her life to heal my father despite what he did to her parents and her old pack. I could never repay her, and the only thing I could do was give her my unconditional love and treat her as my queen.
“Dad.” I rose to my feet and met him halfway. “What are you doing here?”
“Welcome back, son.” He pulled me into a hug with a back tap.
“Thank you.”
“Where’s your wife?” He looked around the office and didn’t find Shadow.
“She’s with Kindra, sorting out the infirmary supply. How’s mom?”
“She’s knitting.”
“Knitting?” I sat back. A hint of laughter from me made Dad shrug as he sat across from me.
“She’s excited to receive the good news.”
I sighed as I rested my back. “She might be disappointed. And please, don’t ask Shadow. We’ve talked about having children, but it started to get into her head, and she began stressing. I don’t want her to make it her priority. I’m okay to wait for a few years, or at least when the house is done.”
“Good. Good.” Dad nodded.
“Now, tell me, what’s this visit all about?”
“I met Sebastien last week. He also wants to be a grandfather.”
“Of course.” I was forced not to make an eye roll. “He wants to expand his kind. That’s what he and Shadow fought about when they first met, but I think he has a change of heart. I start to think that he may care about his daughter, and he hasn’t broken his words.”
“I think so. In his own way, he wants to be a good father to Shadow. So as Alexander.” He stood up.
“You’re leaving?”
“Well, I’m sure you have a lot of things to catch up on. I don’t want to take so much of your time. Come and visit us once in a while. And tell Shadow that I dropped by.”
Before my father could go to the door, it opened wide, revealing my beautiful wife.
“Waylon, what a surprise?”
“Hey, honey.” They kissed cheek-to-cheek. “How was the honeymoon?”
“Great and short.” She laughed, eyes twinkling. “How are you?” She strolled her gaze at my father from head to toe.
“Never been better. I never used that wheelchair again. It’s a miracle, honey.”
“I’m glad to hear that. It’s all worth my highlights.” She was still smiling. “How’s Eleanor? I missed her.”
“I was just telling Califf to come and visit us.”
“We will once we’re done with our pending works. I still have a lot to catch up on and learn, but baby steps.”
“Then I should be going. I just came to check up on both of you.”
“Take care,” I said as I came beside Shadow.
Once my father was gone, I wrapped my arms around my mate, inhaled her scent, and kissed my mark on her neck. “How are you?”
“I’m good. You should go back to work.”
“Why are you pushing me hard to work, baby?” I tried hard to sound gloomy.
“I still have a lot to learn about being a Luna, Califf.”
“Hey.” I forced her to face me. “This is a long-term job. Just like being a mother.” Shit. She instantly pursed her lips. “I mean, you have me to help you out. If any of the pack members need your help, then help them, guide them, and give them advice. The rest is my job.”
She took a deep breath. “I’m just trying to familiarize myself with my job descriptions. Anyway, Duke has the infirmary stock request. Tomorrow, you will get the budget request from the kitchen.”
I couldn’t help but smile and be proud of her. “You did that in just two hours?”
“Well, it’s almost the year’s second quarter, Alpha.”
“I’m proud of you, baby.” I cupped her face and kissed her lips. “Truly. You’re my Luna.”
She frowned. “Why? You’re doubting our mate bond or my capability.”
“Don’t ever say that.” I traced her chin with my thumb. “You know, I never doubted the first time I sniffed your scent. I just tried to fight it because I was not ready to have a mate, but I never regretted my decision to have you in my life.”
“Well, don’t be dramatic.” She went to sit on the chair and took her phone.
I sat back in my chair and reviewed my investment report at Alpha Knight’s winery. “With whom are you chatting?”
“Jealous?” she asked, her gaze was still pinned on the screen.
“If you’re chatting with a guy, yes.”
“Yes. I’m chatting with Zack,” she answered instantly.
“About?”
She met my gaze. “If Zarah won’t make a portal, I have to travel with Zack. I’m one hundred percent sure you won’t allow me to drive alone. Am I right?”
“Yes. And I’m confident Zack will take his own life if he puts yours in any harm’s way.”
“It won’t come to that.”
“Have you talked to Zarah?”
“She hasn’t replied to my text.”
I nodded. “I don’t like the idea of you traveling long hours even if we already eliminated the threats.”
“There can be another one. Maybe humans, something like in Wrong Turn movies.”
“Really, baby?” I squinted, smirking. “That’s what you scared about? A half-Lycan, half-witch is scared of human traps?”
“Those are deadly.” She shrugged and paused. “Zack, come in.”
I shook my head in amusement. She really had way better senses than all of us. I could only do that with concentration, and it was just normal for her, and she could do more good to the pack once she mastered her gift.
Zack walked in. “Alpha, Luna.”
“You will keep her safe for me.”
He sat next to Shadow. “With my life.”
“Please, stop it. I can take care of myself.” She rolled her eyes but didn’t take her gaze off the phone screen.
“No doubt, but it’s part of my job, and don’t insult my capability, Shadow.”
She laughed, offering him a fist bump. “We’re a team, Zack. I would never do that.”
He fistbumped with her. “So you’re going to practice your gift?”
“That’s the plan, but Zarah might have Coven work today.”
“Well, I’m just a link away.”
“How’s the patrol duty, Zack?”
“So far, no incident, Alpha. Boring. Did Lyon report yet?”
“He’ll be here in a few hours. How’s Duke while I was away?”
“Less scary, but everyone respects him as the Beta. And he’s reliable. Kindra is good at her job, too.”
“No incident, accident, fights while we were away?”
“Nothing, Alpha.”
“Huh?” Shadow turned her head at Zack and looked at him. “Given that you guys are the best walking G****e and TMZ, nothing really happened for two weeks?”
“I pretend not to be insulted, Shadow, but I told you.”
“How’s the training of the two bullies?”
“Oh, they’re fast learners. I guess they learned their lessons and respect you a lot now,” he told Shadow with a smile. “I mean, they couldn’t stop talking about that day when you told them to fight alongside us.”
Shadow smiled. Pride appeared in her eyes. “Homer and Rocket said that?”
“Yup. And trust me. They will catch a bullet for you,” said Zack.
“I hope it won’t come to that. They’re good kids.”
“Alpha, we have a situation?”
“What?” I was already on my feet when Lyon’s voice came right to our pack link. The images of blood and deaths and the aftermath of Keane’s actions flashed back in my head, almost making me dizzy.
“What’s wrong?” Shadow and Zack asked in unison.
“I’m here on the site, Alpha. I saw the claw marks on the chest before the new sheriff covered the body. It’s not a bear attack or a work of a human.”
“There’s a new sheriff in town?” I asked in surprise.
“Yes,” Zack answered. “Sheriff Carter Wade.”
“Come back to the compound. I want you to tell me everything.”
“On my way.”
When the link cut off, I met Shadow’s gaze. I went silent for a moment, wondering how to tell her. I didn’t know how to break the news. To be honest, everything that happened in the past was still raw, and I didn’t want another attack or dead bodies piling in my backyard.
“There’s been an attack.”
“Not again.”
“By a werewolf?” Zack asked.
“Possibly. And the victim is human.”
“Shit.”
SHADOW “I can’t believe this is happening.” I slumped my butt onto the couch. “This is different, Shadow,” Lyon said as he sat on the chair across mine. I wasn’t convinced because I felt it was a déjà vu all over again. It had been months since the attack at the compound, and I hadn’t fully recovered from what we lost— our fallen. I was still visited by that nightmare of watching Zack dying in my arms. I couldn’t go through that again. “Hey.” I felt Zack’s hand on my knee, causing Califf to groan. In an instant, his hand was gone. “No one would ever cross Alpha. This is not a work of our pack.” “How do you know it’s not one of us?” I looked him in the eye. He was worried. I felt everyone’s emotions— they were all worried. They knew we were all in danger if someone would make such a ruthless attack on a helpless human. “Unless someone catches a virus, no one will do it intentionally. Everyone knows the punishment is death,” Lyon said promptly. Califf hadn’t said a word, but I f
CALIFF Things just went out of hand. I couldn’t believe a sheriff knew that our kind existed. I was still figuring out how he found out, but I hadn’t been able to contact Alpha Knight and check out if Sheriff Carter was telling the truth. It was five in the morning when I woke up to an empty bed. It was unusual for Shadow to wake up ahead of me. Since we mated, we cuddled, kissed, and did a round of fantastic sex before we got up from bed. I also couldn’t reach out to her. I stretched out and got up from bed. The bathroom was empty. I tried reaching out to our link, but I had no luck. “Zack?” “Alpha, what’s wrong?” He looked like he just woke up, too. “So the answer is no.” “Wait. What’s no?” “Never mind. Go back to sleep.” I changed into sweatpants and a hoodie and decided to go for a run. I stripped off my clothes when I reached the giant tree where we stuffed our things before transforming. I instantly caught the scents of Lyon and Tor walking in my direction. I shifted
SHADOW “Stop. Did you even sleep?” My mind protested, but my body betrayed me the moment his mouth went to my breast, sucking my nipple. His hand cupped and kneaded the other, pinching and tugging the tiny bud in a torturous way. My back arched. My heart hammered so madly. Part of me didn’t know if it was burning or thawing. I loved how he made me feel and how I sag against him. The bite on my bottom lip tightened, and it would draw blood if I put a little more pressure on my teeth. Califf didn’t stop. In fact, he was enjoying it too much, grinning, and so did my wolf, purring in delight. He let go of one hand, delving into my pajama bottom and panties, pulling them down my thighs. One moment, he was on top of me; the next second, he was throwing my clothes on the floor, and I was spread wide— my sex was exposed at his mercy. “Califf.” I groaned loudly. “We’re at my father’s house. We have a mission.” “Fuck the mission. Fuck sleeping.” His fingertips found my soaking wet slit.
CALIFF “It’s been a while, Knight. How have you been?” “Alpha Califf, thanks for the call. And I’m great. Business is good, and the pack is good. How is married life treating you or threatening you?” he asked with a laugh. I laughed as I watched Shadow shoot a glare at me. Of course, she heard every word Knight said. “You just take the word out of my mouth. Shadow heard what you said. Life is good. You should find your mate, Knight. You’re at the right age to have a mate. And trust me, life and pack would be better with a Luna by your side.” “I wish it was that easy. I’m handling the winery business and the pack together. My hands are full right now. I don’t think I have time for a relationship.” “You will, and you will find the time. Things will fall in the right places. I wasn’t ready either when I met my mate. There were threats, my pack was in danger, and my mate was a rogue and, apparently, a Lycan, but we helped each other stop the threats. If I can do it, so can you.” “Hm
SHADOW “Agh!” I grunted in frustration. Zarah was losing her patience with me. I’d been trying to light up a candle for three hours, but it didn’t even smoke or create a spark. I did exactly as she asked, but nothing was happening. I exhaled, trying to concentrate or swore I had given up. “Shadow.” She stopped me. “I can do this.” I closed my eyes again. “Yes, you can, but your heart and mind are not on the task— they’re everywhere. With your mate, your pack, and those hunters. You’re wasting your energy and my time if you don’t focus. If you want to learn—” “I want to learn. I need to learn.” I glared at her. “What do you think I’ve been doing for the last couple of hours if not trying my best? But maybe this isn’t for me. Maybe I shouldn’t use my gift.” She shook her head. Disappointment flashed over her face. “This is why you’re failing because of your desperation to learn quickly. I thought Aira was the hardest I had ever taught, but you’re worse.” “Ouch. You just hurt my
CALIFF I didn’t like it very much when someone paid me a visit to the compound for a non-pack business. I value my privacy very much. How did he find my address? I handled company-related in my office in the city. That was why I had a pad to separate business and pack concerns. Duke met me at the parking area outside the pack house with a frown on his face. “Who is it, Duke?” “A human. Calder Haynes.” My brows furrowed. “A human? I don’t know anyone by that name. What does he want with me? Why didn’t he arrange a meeting somewhere in the city, and why here?” “I wish I could tell you more, Alpha.” He lowered his voice, but something concerning in his actions formed a knot in my stomach. “Where is he?” I had just finished my words when a man as tall as me, almost around my age or older, appeared from nowhere in his well-tailored dark suit, but his face was more alarming. “Califf Stone.” He stared at me for a beat before offering his hand. It was evening, but I could see him
SHADOW I couldn’t believe this was happening. I couldn’t blame Califf for going off the deep end. I didn’t know that man and his true intention. Everyone could play a good guy and manipulate a picture, but he had something up his sleeve. I also felt terrible for him and my mate. I felt Califf’s emotions— his confusion and rage, but he didn’t have to act like a big bad wolf in front of his guest. “Hey.” Kindra met me at the door. “So, who’s the handsome guest?” “I don’t know if this is my secret to tell, but apparently, he’s Califf’s half-brother.” “What?” She held my arms, eyes widening. “You can’t joke something like that, Shadow.” I sighed. “I wish I were, but I was shocked, too. Still, I am.” “It must have been horrifying to Alpha. How is he doing?” I nodded. “Yeah. He’s brooding and mad and kicked that poor man out.” “I can’t blame him, though. I mean, why now? Wait.” She stared at me. “Is he—” “He smells more human.” I shook my head. “He said he hadn’t shifted, but he f
CALIFF I meant to go slow, but Shadow let me fuck her. Her scent was exotic and intoxicating. The overwhelming look on her face and the way her breasts bounced as I fucked her, and the way her inner muscles clamped down around me made my control lose fast. She had already come once and was about to hit another climax. Denying her primal urge to come, she gaped at me. Her eyes were huge, her chest heaving as she gulped for air. “Do you want to come?” “Califf.” She growled in disobedience, rocking against me. “Then promise me you won’t pull that act again.” “Fuck you. You know you can’t make me bend and bow down on you, Alphasshole.” Her eyes narrowed to slits. She was flushed, and now she turned scarlet, but her pink nipples pearled hard with her arousal. “We’ll see about that.” I slammed my cock inside her, hitting bottom. Her tits bounced. Her tight, slick heat was drenched with her wetness. “Califf!” She shrieked. Her voice was sharp and shaky. “Yes, mate?” I pulled out a